I woke in a haze, the morning sky seemed so bright compared to the dark night that had passed. Andrid wasn't next to me, neither was Roko, he had taken him training. 'Yaskin, were going hunting, join us please we could use the help.' Keyola's voice filled the air around me and I had to obey, she took me in afetr all. 'Everyday you grow, I remember when you came here and you were just pass my knees now look at you, the same height.' Keyola licked my ears as I walked passed, I looked at her, I had to tell her I wanted to go but there was no point yet, I had no where to go.

We were hiding in the savannah grass, camoflaged, my weak point my blue fur was a give away but the antelope hadn't yet notice. We prowled nearer and nearer heart thumping when something else caught my eye a lioness, she looked like a pridelander. A voice echoed in my head ' you can go to the pridelands Yaskin, they would accept you , maybe.' I looked a little closer and a lion was looking over her at me, he was grey a flek of blue caught my eye, his tail. I looked around me and the other lioness' were all chasing the antelope, I failed again. I looked back and the other lions were gone, I was alone. I growled out of fustration, scaring the living creatures around me. A bird flapped his wings over my head, I accepted him and let him land near by.

'Where have you been Yaskin, we were all worried, dont ever leave again!' Andrid ran over and this was my greeting. Ironic I thought. I was going to tell them I wanted to leave, it would have to wait they wouldn't agree in this mood. 'I'm sorry, I thought I saw someone, my mind was playing tricks I guess' I nuzzled my head against his to calm him down his eyes had softened over time but he was still great at fighting when he needed to, a trait Roko has developed. I got stares from other lions in the group, the lioness' also lowered there head in greeting, I hated this, I was no different then them, I was not blood related to the King and Queen it was just a coincedence I was found, I mean look at me I look completely different with my blue fur and white leaves, all of them look normal or are scared, me I have not one bruise, cut or scar why? because I'm not allowed out of my 'mum' and 'dads' sight. Roko came running over 'Hey Roko' I nudged him and he nudged back, I will miss him the most. The sun was slowly setting so I walked over to todays hunt and started eating,  I would have to break the news tomorrow. Sleep was calling me and it would be rude not to answer.

'Yaskin wake up!' Roko jumped on my stomach and started patting my nose, he wanted to go to the watering hole. 'I'm awake, lets go then' We walked to the watering hole, playing about chasing butterflies and pouncing on eachother. The lions were there again, if I could run Roko back and I may just be able to talk to them, see who they were and where they came from. 'Yaskin!' Keyola's voice cut over the birds sqwaking, 'Roko, Andrid wants you, lets go' she looked at me 'both of you.' I started walking and then stopped. 'Keyola, I am not going back, I want to stay here a little longer, please.' I could see the fleck of blue of the male lions tail disappering from sight, I needed to catch up. Doubt was filling Keyola's eyes, she was going to say no so I just turned and ran, I knew she would take Roko home first, he was the prince after all and Andrid wanted him, he called the shots in the pride, everyone knew it.

I ran through the savannah grass and jumped over a few obsticles in the process, I'm pretty sure one was a warthog and a meerkat. I made myself slow down when I heard faint voices, 'Eragon, I'm going hunting' 'Ok Jingles, be safe' I followed the voices and saw lions, lioness', cubs just playing and the lioness called Jingles leading a hunting party. 'Hello, blue one over there' I was guessing me so walked out in plain sight, the grey lion called Eragon looked kind so I walked closer, head lowered to show I meant no harm. 'I mean no harm, I was just exploring' I looked up at him and saw that he was smiling, 'it's fine, I am Eragon leader of the Spirit Pride, where do you come from?' he seemed ok so I went back to my natural body pose 'I am Yaskin and I come from the Outcast's pride near the stream' I explained to him everything, adoption, freedom. 'You will be accepted if you prove yourself brave and one of courage' I nodded and walked back to the Outcasts, now had to be the time.

'Keyola she is back!' one of the lioness' called to Keyola, she was lying next the stream, her ears went back as she stood up and she walked towards me, she was going to shout, make a fuss out of the whole situation, I had to beat her to it, explain my point. 'I want to leave,' I said, calm as I could right to her, her whole posture changed and her face looked confused, Andrid must of over heard and walked over, 'Roko go play, Yaskin the stream now!' he looked almost hurt as he walked, shoulders slumped and kept looking at Keyola who was walking by him. I felt guilt piling on top of me, I couldn't just leave them could I ?

'Why Yaskin?' Andrid was first to break the aqward silence that approched us as we sat by the stream, he looked right into my eyes, into my soul it felt like. 'I'm sorry, but remember that day when you first found me, I remember you saying that you wanted to give me to the pridelands, I remember it like yesturday, I know you love me and I love you but I think its time I move on, I need to be free not being watched every second, not being babysitted, not being constantly reminded that I might as well be chained to the territory, I have found a place that will accept me, I will still come to see you, I promise.' there it was out in the open, cant take it back now. 'Yaskin you are frobidden to leave this place' Keyola was the next to speak, me and Andrid were both shocked by this. 'I'm not a cub any more Keyola!' I shouted. The pride behind us fell silent at the highered tone, I didn't care. 'Your not a teenager either yet Yaskin, remember that' Andrid's voice was soft, he was always the voice of reason in situations. 'I do and I will run away if you say no or I can leave with some pride and you just accept the point that I am not meant to be here, I am not the princess you wanted, I'm not even blood related!' I felt tears burning my eyes but I wouldn't cry, not now, not here. 'Ok.' Andrid said calmer then I have ever heard him, he looked at Keyola who nodded back. 'Thank you... Dad' I nuzzled him and licked his cheek and did the same to Keyola. I said my goodbyes and cried as soon as I left. 'Yaskin, where are you going?' I heard Roko shout, 'I am going away for a while, I will come back, I promise.' I licked him and ran towards the Spirit pride as fast as my legs could carry me as I knew if I stopped my heart will tell me to go back and I would of followed it, I always did.

'Eragon' I said as soon as I saw him and I smiled and nodded, I was at my new pride, my new home. 'Jingle's, this is the lioness I was telling you about, Yaskin' Jingles looked me up and down, surveying me and nodded, 'welcome Yaskin' her voice was like music and was welcoming and warm. 'How do I prove myself to be brave and one of courage?' I asked remembering what he had told me earlier. 'You already have, you stood up for yourself and that proves bravery and courage, we are proud to have you in the pride' I laughed, I had done it, my new home welcomed me with every inch of grass going inbetween my toes or the cool breeze tickiling my face.